COUNTRY REPORT ECOWAS PARLIAMENT FIRST ORDINARY SESSION OF 2021
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REPUBLIC OF GUINEA
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Labour - Justice - Solidarity
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
DELEGATION OF GUINEA TO THE ECOWAS
PARLIAMENT
COUNTRY REPORT ECOWAS PARLIAMENT
FIRST ORDINARY SESSION OF 2021
Presented by:
Honourable, Alpha Souleymane BAH, Leader of delegation
Honourable Souleymane KEITA
Honourable Hadja Ramatoulaye Labbo DIALLO
Honourable Boubacar DIALLO
Honourable Aboubacar SOUMAH
Honourable Bandjan Neiba CONDE
MAY 2021
1Rt Honourable Speaker,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have the pleasure to address this august assembly on behalf of the Guinean delegation. First of
all, I bring you warm and cordial greetings from the Speaker of the National Assembly Rt
Honorable Amadou Damaro CAMARA.
He has commissioned me to express, on behalf of the Parliament of Guinea, his appreciations to
the Community for the support and constant solidarity that it continues to show to our country.
This first Ordinary Session of the year 2021 is being held at a time when our countries are
confronted with an unprecedented health crisis due to Covid19, which has affected all socio-
economic activities in our Community space.
The development of our sub-region requires, in the first place, peace, in other words peaceful
resolution of conflicts and conciliation policies among our countries. It is our duty as
representatives of the people, to play a key role in the achievement of the objectives of ECOWAS
in terms of good governance, integration and the promotion of democracy.
We will never tire of repeating that, the Republic of Guinea, under the leadership of President
Alpha Conde, will not relent in its efforts to strengthen its cooperation relationship with all
ECOWAS Member States for the triumph of human values and rights, peace keeping, security
and stability in our sub-region.
Rt Honourable Speaker,
This report has the following outline:
Political Situation
Security Situation, Condition of Refugees in the Region
Human Rights Situation
Health Situation
Status of Implementation of the Community Texts (Ratification of Protocols and
Conventions, Implementation of the Community Levy and the Supplementary Act
on Equality of Rights between Women and Men for Sustainable Development in the
ECOWAS Region)
I– Political Situation
The political situation in Guinea was marked by the conduct of three elections (referendum,
legislative and presidential) that were the major political activities in our country in 2020 which,
through violent demonstrations that resulted in significant property damage, injuries and
unfortunately deaths (civilian and military), put to the test our ability to live together. As expected,
many arrests were made.
The elections of 22 March 2020 led to the adoption by the people of Guinea of a new constitution
that established the fourth Republic. The 9th legislature was also established with a national
assembly made up of 24 other political groups in addition to the presidential majority.
2The political and social situation has been relatively calm due to the political tension the country
went through recently. However, there is currently an atmosphere of mistrust coupled with a break
in communication between a large number of opposition parties and the ruling regime.
In this regard, the government has taken several measures to appease the social and political
atmosphere in the country. That is why priority is given to the judiciary as an independent body to
rule on the various cases before the courts of the country. Drastic measures have also been taken
to build the operational capacity of our security forces to protect citizens and theirs properties. In
the same vein,the President has recently put in place a framework for permanent dialogue to
facilitate the alignment of the various positions with major issues pertaining to our national life.
The Prime Minister, as the officer constitutionally mandated to promote political and social
dialogue, has already begun thinking about and holding consultations on a framework for the
operationalisation of this platform, which is intended to organise consultations among Guineans
on all issues of national interest.
II SECURITY SITUATION
1. Specific Counter-Terrorism Measures:
The current security context has led the government of Guinea to adopt anticipatory strategies in
the face of multifaceted and multidimensional threats (drug trafficking, organised crime and
terrorism).
The defence and security forces have carried out several actions, including intensifying the fight
against serious crime, continuing the implementation of community policing, and strengthening
the operational capacity of the services and the workforce.
In spite of these numerous achievements, some challenges and constraints still lie ahead. That
is why the government has initiated the following laws and had them adopted by the National
Assembly:
Military planning law (2021-2026) ;
Law on the prevention and the fight against terrorism in Guinea;
Law on cybercrime and the protection of personal data;
Fight against Corruption and
Military cooperation agreement between Guinea and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
Law on the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and the proliferation of
weapons of massive destruction;
Law on combating fraud, acts that infringe public properties and the integrity of security
forces.
On the African continent, Guinea is strongly engaged in the fight against terrorism in northern
Mali. After Gangan 5, Guinea deployed its 6th battalion (Gangan 6) made up of 850 men who
benefited from adequate training by national instructors supported by their colleagues from
different countries, such as USA and France. This shows that Ganga 6 is technically, tactically
and morally equipped to fulfil its mission and to honour the participation of the Guinean army in
3this peace and security mission, in solidarity with the people of the sister country Mali with whom
we have a historical tie.
The deployment of those contingents confirm President Alpha Conde’s commitment to fight
against terrorism.
2. Operational Status of the National Commission on Small Arms;
The National Commission to Combat the Proliferation and Illicit Circulation of Small Arms and
Light Weapons, aware of the insecurity, drug trafficking, money laundering and child trafficking
that are rampant in the subregion, is supporting the government in the design and implementation
of the national policy to combat the proliferation and illicit circulation of small arms and light
weapons.
To achieve a level of peace and security that promotes stability and development, effective control
of small arms and light weapons has become a major concern for the government and its
development partners. Thus, it has undertaken activities aimed at advocating with the authorities
for the harmonisation of the law regulating arms in Guinea as well as the collection and destruction
of obsolete Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) of Defence and Security Forces and those
kept in court registries after being seized during cases with final outcomes.
3. Other Threats or Security Threatening Situations:
Beyond electoral issues, youth unemployment, socio-political crises, terrorism in the Sahel are
also causes of the proliferation and circulation of small arms in Guinea as well as recurrent
conflicts between farmers and herdsmen in rural areas and between people affected by mining
activities and mining companies.
III. HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION
Guinea has undertaken various reforms to lay the foundations for a just society that respects
human dignity. Since 2010, Guinea has been reviewing its legal texts in order to align the national
legislation with international conventions ratified by the country. The task is huge and much
remains to be done. Human rights advocates welcome the adoption of a new criminal code and
the abolition of death penalty. The law of Guinea is gradually being aligned with international
standards.
The National Independent Human Rights Institution (INIDH), established since 2015, is involved
in various trainings of defence and security forces, but also in issues of detention and law
enforcement.
It presented its reports on the condition of prisons and the living conditions of inmates in Conakry
and within the country. After the enquiry, 1,363 prisoners were counted in Conakry and more than
1,600 in the other region. The Commission bemoaned the conditions of prisons as well as the
withdrawal of the ICRC.
4With regard to the conditions of inmates in prisons, the National Independent Human Rights
Institution (INIDH) recommends to government to make efforts to address overcrowding in
prisons, especially as part of the Judicial Reform Support Project supported by the European
Union.
The INIDH was also on the ground to observe legislative elections and the referendum held on
22 March 2020 in the Republic of Guinea. However, the capacity of this institution must be
strengthened to ensure its operational independence so that it can produce reports on the human
rights situation in accordance with Article 29 of the law on its organisation and operation. It is
about to publish a new report on the human rights situation in the country.
2. Respect / Promotion of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (press freedom and
freedom of opinion, rights of assembly and demonstration...)
The freedom of assembly, association and demonstration is enshrined in the Constitution of
Guinea. All the same, there are some restrictions on these freedoms in our country due to various
reasons. The government has banned street demonstrations for more than a year, arguing that they
constitute threats to public security or citing reasons associated with the health crisis. Trade unions,
civil society, and politicians complain of administrative obstacles to holding rallies, marches, or
demonstrations.
The government says it is pleased with the security in the country, which reconciles the
imperatives of freedom and the duty of responsibility for the well-being of the people, although
some have been expressing concern about restrictions on the rights of citizens and even a decline
in democracy, for the most critical ones.
The freedom of the public and private press is respected and guaranteed in Guinea by the
constitution and the organic law on press freedom. Radio broadcasting remains the main source
of public information, and several private stations operate throughout the country.
The High Authority for Communication stated that it has issued 72 licenses for 40 commercial
radio stations, more than twenty print and online media, eight (8) private television stations and
32 private community radio stations. According to the same source, the country has 34 public
rural and community radio stations under the Ministry of Information and Communication.
3. Specific Situation / Measures relating to:
a) Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
After the adoption of laws for the protection and promotion of persons with disabilities and
albinism, implementing decrees are being drafted to end discrimination against people with
disabilities and those with albinism in the society.
These acts reflect a political will to strengthen the social protection floor and reduce inequalities,
which is reflected in the National Social and Economic Development Plan (PNDSE)
b) Promotion of Women's Rights
5The new April 2020 constitution, in its Article 9, paragraph 3, states that "The Republic of Guinea
affirms that parity between men and women is a political and social objective. The government
and the assemblies of the deliberative organs cannot be composed of the same gender with more
than two-thirds (2/3) of their members", which marks an important step for a better representation
of women in decision-making positions.
The new Penal Code provides for penalties for attacks on the physical or psychological integrity
of the person on the one hand, and on the other, assault and battery, abortion, rape and threats.
Female genital mutilation, sexual and moral harassment and all other forms of discrimination
against women are punishable by the laws in force.
It should be noted that the revised Civil Code presents very important advances and innovations
for the status of women. For example, it allows women to work without asking their husbands for
permission, which was not the case. Furthermore, in the event of divorce, the division of parental
authority will apply. Another important step is that the woman was not allowed to register the birth
of her child in the civil registry, she will now be able to enjoy this right.
The new Guinean Civil Code establishes monogamy as the general regime of marriage, but
polygamy remains possible on condition that the first wife gives her consent during the celebration
of the marriage at the town hall.
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, gender-based violence resurfaced and gained a certain
notoriety which led the authorities to set up a toll-free number for anonymous complaints
c) Promotion of the Rights of the Child:
Significant efforts have been made by the government and its partners for the establishment of a
division responsible for child protection within the national gendarmerie, which has led to a
considerable reduction in cases of rape, disappearances and kidnappings of children and
abandoned babies.
Legislatively, the revised Children's Code is in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child
and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children. Other significant advances, include
the passage of the deadline for declaring births from 15 days to 6 months.
d) Situation of Refugees and Stateless Persons:
Among the Liberian, Sierra Leonean and Ivorian citizens who had fled the war, despite the end of
the crises, several families preferred to stay in Guinea. A strategy for the local integration of
refugees has been drawn up by the government with the support of the UNHCR, which aims to
promote the empowerment of more than 800 refugees in the Forest Region, who will have opted
for the lasting solution of local integration mainly in the Macenta, Beyla and Yomou prefectures.
In Guinea, many people are considered stateless, mainly made up of individuals in refugee
situations. A 2014-2024 global action plan aimed at preventing and combating statelessness is
already in place.
6IV. HEALTH SITUATION
The Republic of Guinea, in its Constitution, recognizes health as a fundamental right, prior to the
enjoyment of other fundamental rights. It has subscribed to several international legal instruments
in the field of health.
Since the political renewal of 2010, and with the onset of the Ebola virus epidemic health crisis in
2014, major reforms of the health system are planned at the end of the general health meetings.
This state of affairs has led Guinea to re-examine the relevance and effectiveness of its current
health programmes and policies and has produced a National Health Development Plan, a Health
System Recovery Plan.
The national health policy drawn up in 2014, and which covers the period 2015-2024, has as a
vision, "the creation of a Guinea, where all populations are in good health, economically and
socially productive, benefiting from universal access to quality health care and services”.
Following the Ebola epidemic in 2016, the Guinean government set up the National Health
Security Agency (ANSS), the national institution in charge of managing epidemics, emergencies
and health disasters. The agency has been provided with 38 epidemic treatment centres for the
management of cases of diseases with epidemiological potential, in accordance with the
administrative subdivision of the country.
The government had also carried out an analysis of the risks of epidemics and disasters that the
populations could face. This analysis highlighted the significant risk of a resurgence of certain
diseases, in particular that caused by the Ebola virus. In total, nine priority zoonotic diseases
(rabies, anthrax, Ebola, dengue, brucellosis, avian influenza, yellow fever, Lassa fever, Rift Valley
fever) have been identified and placed under surveillance as part of the integrated “one health”
approach.
For the management of epidemic cases in the communities, 17 improved health centres were
built. The national capacity in terms of laboratories and logistics has been improved. The country
now has a network of five certified laboratories in Conakry, and two local laboratories in the
prefectures of Guéckédou and Kindia, capable of detecting the main diseases with epidemic
potential.
For emergency interventions in the response against epidemics, the management of the agency
has been decentralized, alert and response teams to epidemics have been set up at the regional
level (regional alert and response teams to epidemics (ERARE)) and prefectures (prefectural
epidemic alert and response teams (EPARE). The capacity of the vaccination teams has been
enhanced for the implementation of screening activities.
The experiences of the 2014 epidemic response and the participation of Guinean teams in the
Ebola response in the DRC have strengthened national capacities in epidemic management and
are applied today in the management of Covid-19. A videoconferencing system has been set up
to coordinate interventions in the various prefectures. Measures have also been implemented to
mobilize and involve Community nationals in the management of the crisis alongside the ANSS.
To date our country has recorded 22,830 confirmed cases, 152 deaths and 20,421 recoveries.
7In February, Guinean health authorities declared the country "in an epidemic situation" after the
confirmation of seven cases of Ebola viral infection, including three deaths. The whole of West
Africa finds itself in a delicate situation, with a real risk of a resurgence of the Ebola epidemic five
years after a first deadly wave that killed more than 11,000 people, but the situation is under
control.
Regarding other pathologies, the prevalence of malaria still remains high with 44% in children.
This pathology represents 40.82% of consultations and 45.30% of hospitalizations in public health
facilities and 36% of causes of hospital deaths are due to severe malaria. It is the leading cause
of death for children under 5..
HIV / AIDS remains a public health problem with a stable prevalence of 1.7% in 2012 in the
general population. In 2011, HIV / AIDS accounted for 9% of consultations with a “generalized”
type of epidemic. Its prevalence among pregnant women is 2.5%.
As for Tuberculosis, its prevalence still remains high with its double burden of Tuberculosis / HIV
co-infection. In addition, meningitis, cholera and measles are endemic and epidemic. Among
other communicable diseases, 6% of children under 5 years of age had symptoms of acute
respiratory infection and 16% had experienced diarrhoea.
These pathologies represent the second and third causes of mortality in children under 5 years,
respectively. Neonatal infections are also important causes of death in this age group.
It should be noted that noncommunicable diseases linked to lifestyles are becoming increasingly
important. They consist of diabetes with a prevalence of 5% in people aged 15 to 64, chronic
respiratory diseases with 12.4% prevalence in schools, cardiovascular diseases with a prevalence
of 28.1% of arterial hypertension, cervical cancer 0.5% in women and liver cancer with 31.5 per
100,000 and finally sickle cell disease with a prevalence of 11.57%.
The major challenge for the Guinean health system in the coming years is to extend health
coverage to the entire population by strengthening health services delivery and developing
community health.
To meet this challenge, the health system must face other challenges which are:
improved governance of the sector, the availability of quality and motivated human
resources;
reducing direct health expenditure on households while ensuring adequate and equitable
funding for the system;
the availability of health products and medical technologies;
improving the efficiency of the health information system and research.
With the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in 2014, the health sector is virtually under
reconstruction. The Guinean government has a strong political will to improve the health of the
population. This desire is reflected in the inclusion of health among the priority sectors of the
national development policy.
8The needs in the health sector are numerous and range from the infrastructure construction,
equipment, training, to research.
For the strengthening of the healthcare system in Guinea, the PNDS 2015-2024 recommends
three strategies which are analyzed in the document, they are:
improved care for major diseases,
improving health at all stages of life, including maternal and child health,
strengthening the healthcare system
It should also be noted that despite the global economic recession following the covid 19
pandemics, our country's economy remains among the most resilient in Africa, with economic
activity recording a growth of 7% in 2020 according to the IMF review against a forecast of 5.2%.
This performance can be explained by the dynamism of the mining sector and the leveraging role
of the telecommunications and energy sector.
The challenge remains, controlling inflation and sharing economic prosperity by improving the
purchasing power of populations and reducing poverty.
V. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF ECOWAS TEXTS
1. Status of ratification of community texts;
Out of a total of 54 ECOWAS Protocols and Conventions signed by the Republic of Guinea, only
twelve (12) have not been ratified (attached in the annexe) thus placing Guinea in sixth (6th) place
among the Member States with the most ratifications.
According to the ministry in charge of African cooperation and integration, this situation of delay
in the ratification of these instruments by our country is due to the fact that we do not yet have the
documents in French version for their transmission to the National Assembly.
2. Protocol on the Free Movement of People and Goods:
In 1975 in Dakar, ECOWAS member states embarked on this difficult but irreversible path through
the adoption of a Protocol on the Free Movement of People and Goods. Despite this efforts by
the highest national and community authorities, the free movement of people is struggling to be
fully effective.
Even more serious, the right of entry, until then considered to be the most effective of the rights
constituting the free movement of people, is constantly challenged by illegal practices
(harassment and racketeering at borders and within States) . One of the factors hindering free
movement is that most of the time, citizens of the Community area are ignorant of their rights and
duties in the area of free movement. Added to this is the non-harmonization of administrative and
travel documents.
9To remedy this, the Guinean government has made a strong commitment to supporting the
effective implementation of this protocol to which it has freely subscribed. Sensitization for all
stakeholders is necessary in this context.
In its action plan, consultations with the various actors are underway, in particular transporters,
socio-professional groups, young people, migrants, security forces, agents of immigration
services, social organizations and civil society to discuss ways to overcome the difficulties on the
various corridors.
In addition, it should be noted that this issue of free movement of people and their goods has
been experiencing some difficulties for several months with certain states in the community. You
will recall that our country was forced to close three (3) of its land borders with neighbours against
its will; To date, two of them still remain closed, while the one with the Republic of Sierra Leone
has been reopened following discussions which have led, among other things, to the
establishment of a mixed patrol along the borders. The same procedures continue with the two
other brother countries.
3. Status of payment into the Community levy account :
According to the last statement of the Public Treasury at the Central Bank of the Republic of
Guinea dated March 21, 2021, Guinea paid the sum of 21,223,104,864 GNF or 2,165,623 US
Dollars into the ECOWAS account
Sequel to the Freetown seminar and in accordance with the conclusions on the CL, our delegation
had working sessions with the departments in charge of the community levy in our country
(Finance Budget, Integration and International Cooperation), the ECOWAS Commission and the
BCRG. At the end of these exchanges, a repayment schedule for the community levy was drawn
up (see attached copy)
4. Challenges encountered in implementing the community levy
The application of this protocol as set out is encountering difficulties linked, on the one hand, to
the single cash policy, and on the other hand to the deficit in foreign currency reserves at the
Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea. This explains the delay in payments.
5. Supplementary Act on the equal rights between women and men for Sustainable
Development in the ECOWAS region
The commitment of ECOWAS leaders to achieving this Vision of moving the Community from an
ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of Peoples has over the years, resulted in the adoption of a
range of instruments and mechanisms which have materialized in concrete programs and projects
at different levels of implementation in the ECOWAS Member States.
By equipping itself with such a tool, ECOWAS thus expresses its conviction that gender equality
is first and foremost a matter of principle dictated by a concern for justice and a development
issue for its member countries. The fight for equality between women and men is thus part of a
10broader framework for the promotion of human rights and sustainable development to which all
ECOWAS member countries are committed to.
It is in this context that the Republic of Guinea, by signing and ratifying like all other nations, the
many international conventions on human rights, has chosen to see every Guinean, without
distinction of sex, ethnicity or religion, fully enjoy all his or her rights to contribute to the efforts of
economic and social development of our country.
It is with a view to guaranteeing and strengthening these achievements, essential to building a
society based on equal opportunities and social justice, that the government adopted in 2011 its
National Gender Policy (PNG). This policy will focus on the reduction, in the medium and long
terms, disparities between women and men in line with the international and regional legal
instruments that the government has ratified in this area, through a systemic approach that will
involve all sectors in order to contribute to the empowerment of women (access to credit especially
in rural areas) as well as their effective participation in decision-making at all levels of the
development and peacebuilding process.
Significant progress has been made on the situation of women in Guinea, particularly with regard
to the legal framework and public policies, but also several sectoral strategies on the education
of girls and the fight against violence against women. The government has set up funds such as
the National Fund to Support Women's Economic Activities (FONAEF) and the National fund for
Gender Promotion (FNPG).
The Government has harmonized certain national laws which promote women's rights with the
commitments made at the sub-regional, regional and international level including:
inclusion in the constitution as a political and social objective
the adoption of the law on parity,
adoption of the national policy for the prevention and fight against gender-based violence
(GBV);
adoption of the national strategy to promote the eradication of female genital mutilation
the adoption of the new penal and civil codes
the establishment of the national office for the protection of the child, gender, and morals
(OPROGEM) in the regions and prefectures;
change of nomenclature from the National Directorate for the Promotion of Women and
Gender (DNPFG) to National Directorate for Gender and Equity (DNGE)
the establishment of gender units instead of gender directorate within all ministerial
departments for more representation of women in the management of public affairs.
These acts thus reflect the commitment of the authorities to respond to concerns related to the
empowerment and promotion of women's rights
In conclusion, I would like, on behalf of the delegation and myself, to express my sincere
condolences to all those families bereaved by Covid-19 in West Africa and beyond, and to express
to them my deep feelings of compassion and solidarity. I would also seize this opportunity to pay
tribute to the health workers who are on the front line in the fight against this terrible virus.
11We should recall that the conduct of each of us goes beyond our own person and can have an
impact on the whole of society. Let us, therefore, respect the restriction measures set out by the
health authorities.
Thank you
Thank you
Obrigado
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